a bleeding purple utah jazz blog

Playoffs R2G4 vs LAL: The End

I concurred with the sentiments of i_am_pure_barbarian, who wrote to me before the game, “The only reason I am watching tonight is to get one last glimpse of AK.”

I wanted the Jazz to win so that they didn’t get swept, but that desire was dampened by the reality that the Jazz’s season was over.

And as I watched the Jazz just go through the motions, and saw the absence of fight, and of desire, and of pride, I just wanted it to be over regardless of result. It was clear from their body language that they had given up, and worst yet, at the frontline of the giving up effort was our leaders.

I’m frustrated. Unhappy. Disappointed, to be sure. I’m sorry that Jerry Sloan has more competitive fire than most of his players and that he has to watch their sorry asses play (incidentally, I was struck by his graciousness to the Lakers players and coaches after the game ended. He is the anti-Lebron). However, the reigning emotion in me is…relief. I’m relieved that it’s over. I’m relieved that this chapter has closed, and the franchise can move on with a different cast this fall.

To new beginnings.

P.S. To those that this applies to: Jazz fans, let’s ring in the new season by getting over Derek Fisher. Sheesh.

Related

Just wanted to say I’ve appreciated following your blog for the second half of the season. I follow this and SLC Dunk each day, and it’s a great contrast. While you may not have the same community/following, I personally enjoy hearing your point of view.

Unfortunately this is a sidenote, but I was at the game last night, and other than our team failing in many ways, I had three observations that bothered me. First, and most obvious, I hate how Derek Fisher flops. I wish the NBA would call a foul for flopping if they aren’t going to call a fould on the opposing player. Second, how did Pau Gasol end the game with zero fouls! Third, I can’t believe how many Lakers fans were at the game. That really bothers me. That is all.

The game was difficult to watch. From the beginning it was apparent that it was nothing but a process that had to be completed.

Like Rog said, it’s amazing how the flying arms of a big man can make so much non contact deep in the paint going for a rebound, loose ball or a hoop. But then I’ve got the series at :15-1 of actual fouls vs. fouls called against the Lakers.

WWNBA normal.

Oh well it’s over for this season.

Thanks Moni for having this blog. I find it rather neat and very unique being you are so very far away. But I like it and will hit it now and again all summer.

–i have to say, flopping really detracts from the game. after watching fisher flop (and the refs biting every time) the entire series, i can kind of understand how angry denver fans were when they felt we were flopping in round 1. i have to keep reminding myself that this is–first and foremost–a problem with the officiating. if referees didn’t call fouls when players flop, no one would flop. the nba is the one with the power to stop this (either by ignoring flops, or calling a foul on the flopper). if they don’t, we can only keep banging our heads against the wall.

–gasol being traded to the lakers was a joke to begin with. you can bet that that trade would have never happened if it had involved a small market team. and to make the parity level even more unbalanced, he gets to camp out in the paint for entire possessions and play foul-free. part of this is boozer’s fault (he’s not going to get any calls when he plays passively and only shoots fadeaway jumpers), and part of it is, of course, a problem with officiating.

–laker fans in the ESA make me physically ill.

i’ll be here during the summer, blogging away. i just can’t stay away from the jazz, and i’m almost excited to see what will happen during the off-season (hopefully there will be exciting turns of events).

First, thanks for the blog. I have it in my portal and check it daily. Hey I thought it was a great season. The boys went much further than I thought they would and knocking out Denver was particularly sweet. That was worth the ‘price of admission’. In my perfect world they keep Boozer and get a big athletic 5 in the draft. I know that won’t happen, yet the core of this young team is very exciting and I am very much looking forward to the years ahead of us. I have my head held high and am proud to call myself a Jazz Fan. Just wait til next year!
BTW – this officiating thing in my view is the only threat that can hurt the NBA. Stars getting the calls, young players not getting the calls, unwritten rules about how games are called, refs calling it this way one night and the other way another night. It has to stop or the league will start to look like jai alai or professional wrestling (controlled drama with a pre-planned outcome).

i admit to predicting denver in 6 for the first round (or maybe even 5 after memo went down), which made the win all the sweeter.

the problem is that the NBA refuses to admit that there is a problem. despite rampant inconsistency from player to player, quarter to quarter, ref to ref, etc., the NBA will go to its grave preaching the party line–even as it is being proven wrong night after night. there are some that already believe the nba is like wrestling, and with good reason.